At the 2024 Game Awards, Astro Bot claimed the prestigious title of Game of the Year, surpassing strong contenders such as Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, Black Myth: Wukong, and Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree. The charming PlayStation platformer received accolades not only for Game of the Year but also for Best Family Game, Best Action/Adventure, and Best Game Direction. Team Asobi’s studio head, Nicolas Doucet, graciously acknowledged the rivalry with Nintendo during his acceptance speech.
Indie game Balatro also made a notable mark by winning three awards, including Best Mobile Game. Meanwhile, RPG Metaphor: ReFantazio garnered similar recognition, highlighting a successful evening for Japanese game developers. Black Myth: Wukong, inspired by Chinese mythology, captured the Player’s Voice Award based on popular public voting. As for Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth, it secured only one win for Best Music despite having seven nominations. Melina Juergens from Ninja Theory was celebrated for her outstanding performance in Hellblade 2: Senua’s Saga.
The event showcased not only awards but also performances from a full orchestra and surprise celebrity appearances, including Snoop Dogg and Harrison Ford, who presented the Best Ongoing Game Award to Helldivers 2. Naughty Dog unveiled their new project, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, alongside trailers for a sequel to Capcom’s Okami and confirmation of The Witcher 4’s development by CD Projekt Red.
This year’s awards also introduced the Game Changers Award, recognizing Amir Satvat from Tencent Games for his efforts to assist recently laid-off developers. In a heartfelt speech, he emphasized the importance of treating others well. Larian Studios’ Swen Vincke spoke out against the industry’s focus on market share and sales targets, calling for a return to creating games developers themselves want to play.
As discussions about AI protections and working conditions continue amid a strike by video game actors, the ceremony painted a picture of resilience in the industry. However, debates arose surrounding the eligibility of expansions for Game of the Year and the inclusion of free-to-play mobile games among fan-nominated categories. Overall, the 2024 Game Awards served as a celebration of creativity, community, and the ever-evolving world of gaming.
This event signifies not just the recognition of excellence in gaming but also the industry’s ongoing dialogue about its challenges and potential for improvement, fostering a sense of hope for future innovations and inclusivity.